Great video, Mike! Great message for an unprecedented time in the history of the earth! I also couldn't agree more, as much as we nerd out on microphones, the space is absolutely foremost and critical.
I just wanted to mention an app people can get for their phones, called "Dolby On". It will automatically adjust phone recordings to sound much better. It also has some manual adjustments available as well. It's especially useful for recording a musical performance, but it might be useful for spoken word, impromptu field recordings, and other applications as well. It performs noise reduction, adjusts volume and dynamics, frequency response, etc. and is VERY simple to use, considering all it does. Perhaps you, Bandrew, or Mike might want to give it a try and share your thoughts about it? www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/music/dolby-on.html Note: I have no personal connection with Dolby or Dolby On. I'm just deeply interested in all things audio related, and thought this might help some folks who want to try recording with their phones. I like doing field recordings and recording sound effects on location. For this, the best recorder to use, is the one you have with you! 😉 We almost always have our phones with us, and I installed the program on my phone for quick capture of sound effects, and field recording of louder sounds-especially for those times when I don't have my "real" recorder with me. 🙂
I really appreciate this video as I've been forced to move my audio course online and adapt our remaining projects so that they can be completed without access to our studios and equipment. I have included a link to it in the help document I am creating for my students. I'm glad I came across your channel after watching Curtis Judd's channel. It's great stuff. Thank you.
I swear this dude’s a magician. Everything he uses sounds good as hell, i bet he could go grab the first microphone he sees from a flea market and make a studio quality recording
If you have an extra phone or a tablet (iPad, Android) you could use that also. There are even microphones which plug into phones or tablets if you are in a noisy environment where a more directional microphone would help. Great video, thanks again Mike!!
Right? I upgrade my mics and sound like I'm doing helicopter traffic reports. He uses a phone and sounds like he is Stephen spinning that smoooooth jazz on WQRL, 89.7 on your FM dial.
Funnily enough, just today we needed a voice-over for a commercial in an extreme rush. No time to get the talent to the studio. But he had a phone. And a car. Fifteen minutes later, i mastered and delivered the spot. No complaints on the technical quality from anyone. Phones are surprisingly good audio recorders. And cars are surprisingly good vocal booths. An odd day to come across this video :-)
haha, I am a full time musician and do producing for radio shows for years and have been working at home. I also do you name it with side businesses, SEO, websites, coding, editing. My girlfriend mentioned how I would be just fine because I barely leave the house. We live in the Hollywood Hills and she does everything at a moments notice. I will set aside my time only for important things like events or concerts, I hate wasting time and money on nonsense,
mixers/ preamps can boost quality of microphones ... if you buy an expensive mic and a cheap mixer/preamp it’ll bottleneck and you won’t be able to achieve the peak quality of the mic because of your mixer/preamp quality isn’t great
This is one of my favorite channels on the Internet. Your content is informative, practical, not condescending, and your desire to help/educate feels 100% genuine. You're the Mike Rowe of voice over education.
A couple of days ago I was singled out in a Zoom meeting (now that we're all on Zoom...) and told that my audio was amazing. Yes - I was PROUD! That recognition was only possible because I've been paying A LOT of attention to your videos. I've got a small room in my home where I covered a little over half the wall space with inexpensive homemade acoustic treatment panels. I use that space for both ham radio fun and for recording. I did buy a high quality H6 recorder and some decent wired Rode lav mics and a set of wireless Saramonic lavs to allow interviewees more movement. BUT, on the Zoom meeting that I got complimented on, I was only using a relatively cheap Marantz USB mic. Acoustic treatment is where it's at!!! Thank You for putting in the time to teach this way.
I have a small couch next to my bed, and I never noticed before that I could move it forward a bit, put a thick blanket over the space between my couch and my bed and make a perfect recording space! Thank you so much!!
This aged magnificently. I hate the circumstances, and that 18 months later it is even more relevant. But it is super uplifting. Thank you so much for this video. Love your energy
Have recorded a short Fairytale recently (in german) with a Headset. The microphone sounds really good, but asio and USB noise is killing me 😂 Time to dig out my large diaphragm and audio interface I think
I am mentally stuck right now. It helps a lot, and you're right, and Bandrew went through it also, the best equipment is often what you can come up with around you.
Fantastic episode! Just what I needed here in Sweden: A little kick in the butt and some inspiration that turns the mindset to...: We are going to get through this and there is bright light on the other side of the tunnel! Time to warm up the voice again!! Stay safe everybody!
This was great!! I began a few months ago with creating a Demo to have on my Profiles with only my cell phone & ear bud mic w/ my Laptop. I wanted to get started with something and that was what I had to work with. I landed a few small jobs and then an audiobook for Narration! With those funds..I then began to build my home studio in a corner of my bedroom..surrounding my desk w/ toss pillows, blankets, and comforters to put under my door and in my window. I have been working since I began and now am on my 4th Audiobook project with another project waiting to begin. Grateful for a work at home hobby/job since my outside work has all come to a halt w/ the pandemic. Stay well & safe All. Blessings! :)
Patti Bullock - I just checked out your channel. When I saw your playlist - I loved it! It sounds like we are on similar journeys! I got a job for an audiobook using my Yeti. I live on the beach which is super noisy for VO! So I have treated a hall closet with a chair, desk, clothes, comforters, and mattress foam. I am on such a tight budget. When I saw your comment, it gave me hope! I am going to use my phone for the audiobook (I had auditioned using a Yeti)and will edit on Audacity. I am so glad I found your channel! Blessings :).
@@Soothe2SleepStoriesStewardess HI Lani!! TY for reaching out. Have you checked ACX for narration work yet? They have plenty of books needing Narrators. Some are on Royalty basis and others pay per book or bundle. I am from Pompano Beach area and yes an imagine the noise element. LOL I use Twisted Wave most of the time when working off my Chromebook laptop. I like the program so far!! Wish you the best!! :)
Patti Bullock aloha & blessings from Hawaii. 🌺🌊. Thank you for telling me about Twisted Wave! I find that even my new PC has a fan that won’t stop when recording! So I’m experimenting in different ways; today I recorded the book I’m narrating with Vocal Pro App. No pun intended for us living on the ocean sounds of people in the ocean and waves....for us to edit with a program called, “Twisted Wave.” 😉. I do have a profile on ACX and did get hired with my yeti for a Royal basis audiobook. I completed my first 15 minutes and it was approved by author. But I didn’t like the Limiter affect on it so I may restart it again.....constantly learning this engineer skill.....😁. Thank you for your tips & suggestions!! They are very helpful. Blessings abound to you!!
Besides how great Mike is, what I really love is hearing how, when he finishes a sentence, or sometimes just between phrases, the volume just drops right to zero, with no trace of room noise or echo.....making his point. Really, really nice. Thank you so much.
Was about to buy a microphone and audio interface with the only $200 of disposable income I had since I'm in college. I thought my phone microphone had no chance of cutting it since I heard terrible quality in the videos I have with my friends; but sure enough, I hunched over onto my bed and covered myself in blankets and got a sound that captures every part of my voice that makes it my voice. It's not perfect, but it shows me just how much I had. Gonna be recording my voice exclusively on my phone in a small corner till I get enough blankets and boxes for a fort around my desk. I've had a $50 mic set for years but thought I needed more to make it sound nice. I heard the importance on a home studio, but never to this degree. It really got the point across. Thank you for this video.
you couldnt be more right here my friend. I put VO off for a long time because I was waiting for the 'right mic' and once i finally started I realized how much time I wasted just sitting around when I could have gotten a cheaper mic that worked great
Your advice quietly reveals the depth of experience that you have. It's all about the performance and being authentic with your sound. The mic just helps the sound mix. Perfect advice for anyone starting out in voice acting / voice over.
I just watched this now and oh my goodness! I'm deeply touched with the message here especially with the way you delivered it, Mike. You had my heart bawling! Man, you're like a VO dad to me and I'm sure a lot of others feel a similar way. I've been doing VO and editing my audio with just a Blue Yeti and a pop filter for two years - all through self-learning - with, fortunately, some degree of success but not to a point where I consider myself an established voice actor or voice over artist, so to say. In a word, I'm plateauing. However, seeing this video lifted my spirits again! Thank you so much for your videos and the playlist on improvised vocal booths, Mike. I've finally saved enough money to start acoustically treating my home studio - my attic-room - and will do my very best to pull through with what I got and will have. You're a blessing.
I remember growing up I was in a band and we recorded albums on an 8 track Tascam. Thats drums, guitars, bass and vocals all crammed into 8 tracks. It made you be creative, heck, most of the fun was needing to be creative with your recording techniques. I have recorded vocals in closets full of jackets and for signing.... I have been in many showers recording vocals lol. Free reverb! lol. Recorded drums outside and had to restart every time a plane flew over, but they sounded amazing. Really part of the fun is using your creativity to create the space where you get the best results.
As someone in medical- thank you, Mike. Thank you for doing your part. Thank you for doing your best in your corner of the world. Stay inside, and keep creating something amazing!
my set up for a EAZY DIY vocal booth: 1 mattress, a desk/ office table, pillows, a mic and maybe a mic arm that can reach under your desk and obs with audacity. obs because thair noise recuction tools are wonderful and audacity to bring back lighter tones and to edit it.
@@DarkPa1adin The quietest room I've ever been in, was the "stack room" at my local university's library. This is a large room filled with nothing but row after row of bookshelves that nearly touch the ceiling. It's mostly used for mass storage, and very few people enter it. I was totally alone in there most of the time. The doors are also heavy and stay closed. There are no windows, nor even any outside walls. After being in this room for awhile, I could easily hear my own heart beating, and I could even hear my own blood flowing. Having lots of bookshelves in a room can definitely make a big difference acoustically!
This is the first video I've ever seen of yours. And within the first 3 seconds I was like "this guy is engaging!" And I instantly trusted everything you had to say.
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! You're absolutely right - most people will tell you that you need to get the right mic for your environment .. BUT … you're spot on, there's also the opportunity to modify / select the right environment to suit your mic. Great video. Good to have this perspective to re-balance the purist view of mics. Top job, sir … top job :)
I love your videos. You're amazing. I went from a $50 Blue Snowball to a Shure 55SH Series II and the difference was night and day in the quality, without having done anything to my space.
Your reviews, guidance, and words of encouragement are absolutely GOLDEN. I can go on forever telling you about the many times your videos have led me to create pseudo booths in a room located in a tremendously noisy Bronx, NY apartment. But THIS video is about something much deeper and more personal in these emotionally trying times. Just want to say THANK YOU. Your love and heart is on every word you said. Bless you sir...
Thank you so much for this video. I was about to invest in a 100€+ microphone and saw your video before buying it. I hadn't realized that the microphones on my phone (Note9) were that good! I also found an app that allows me to use my phone as a USB microphone. It's called "WO mic" and it's free! I'm now going to buy a phone stand to hold my phone just like a mic. You saved me about 80€ euros man, thank you!
You are so Awesome Mike! We love the video's and always learn something but also you seem like the nicest person on the planet!! Thank you for all you do for us
Mike, your videos are always fun and 99.949% of the time quite helpful. However! You threw us a curve ball with this one. I didn't see THAT coming. Your tag line, "make something amazing," has always struck me as a subtle counter to the techie nature of your videos. And the way you ditched the 416... and the TLM103... the way you stripped the tech down to show us it's okay to use your phone -- absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the great message. Thanks a ton!
THANK YOU! I’m not a voice actor, but I do produce music as a hobby. A lot of people I know ask me what the best mic for [Insert task]. I always tell them, whatever sounds good to you. The biggest issue with most audio recordings is that they are recorded in rooms with a ton of noise and the mic gain is poorly set. I remember when I first started recording my acoustic guitar I used the mic in my iPhone4, and I realized that I could record a demo with it. It sounded great.
Thanks Mike! This couldn't have come at a better time. Your videos helped tremendously so far in my VO journey so far. Followed your Reaper tutorials and made a few stabs at a demo reel. Right now I was procrastinating doubting the cheap USB condenser I'm working with. But it's good enough to land those first few gigs and come up with the funds to invest in better equipment. I thoroughly enjoy this channel!
I watched the discussion that Curtis and Andrew had and I thought that it was, at best, lackluster. On the other hand, YOUR TEACHING, Mike, is much more applicable to a VO artist - or even a musician. You make it clear that the environment - the recording space - is far more important than the microphone. I've had the years of using microphones that only cost a couple hundred dollars; but doing so in a room that sounded good (or DIDN'T have a "sound"). In the last 10 years I have been able to use a much more expensive microphone but only in the last 6 months really made the treatments to a much larger room and the spot IN THAT ROOM where I got the best sound. Thanks for your straightforward, no-nonsense videos about creating "something amazing!" Rob Cincinnati
A smart friend of mine (a multiple tech patent holder who may/may not have consulted for Apple) told me one time, and this stuck with me, that tiny mic in your iPhone is calibrated to a VERY high tolerance. They THROW AWAY more mics than most companies will ever sell if they don't meet the grade during QC. The mic in my iPad Mini, 6 years old now, sounded BETTER than the Apogee One's own mic. New phones from Samsung and LG have equally high-quality mics. Watch out for plosives, use pop-screens if you need to.
I never comment on vids. But i will say this...You are the most likeable youtuber i have ever come across. Really interesting channel also . Cheers buddy.
Thanks for sharing this in such a GLARINGLY CLEAR way. Dan Lenard and I from VOBS.TV have been preaching this for YEARS now. We appreciate you spreading this gospel to a wider audience. Love hearing the pitter-patter of little feet above you :)
Can't thank you enough for all the MASSIVE work you do on all these videos and the ways in which you explain things. I have watched tons of your videos and the info is invaluable! I know how much time and prep these take and just really, really thank you Mike! Stay well!! Justin
Thank you for doing what you're doing! I also make a living with my voice. And I've learned a lot of good audio recording tips from you. Stay awesome, Mike!
Thanks for this Mike. Your videos have educated and inspired me over the past several months. I ended up making my walk-in closet a small booth and it’s working well so far. I’m still figuring things out but I’m practicing and making progress. Keep doing what you’re doing. We appreciate it! Stay safe.
Great video! I very much needed to hear this, especially the microphone/studio price ratio. I often spend to much time researching new gear but not as much in improving my space and skills.
This was really good information and perfectly demonstrated, convinced me immediately to stop looking at expensive microphones and start looking at acoustic solutions instead! Earned yourself my sub for sure!
This was not just an inspirational talk. This was the perfect pitch for your channel. You, sir, have a new subscriber. The way you constructed this talk is already worthy of some study. The structure (beginning, mid, conclusion) was flawless. Thank you for releasing this content and thank you for giving me material to study. I will not only study your content, but I'll soak as much as possible from your storytelling and use of voice. To me, as an ordinary teacher, I see a lot of knowledge and experience here. Keep it up, please. Grateful for this video.
Wow! I really needed that encouragement and advice. Thanks Mike. You're a great guy! Curtis Judd and Podcaststage are great channels. I watch them regularly as well. I really hope you guys can do a podcast together. I would love to watch it! Thanks again.
Here's something very important about using apps for recording: A lot (actually, almost all) apps I've tried for Android had some kind of auto-compression automatically applied to my recorded audio which I couldn't find settings for. Find one that doesn't get louder and louder when there's no sound and dip the volume when it picks up audio. The one I use is unfortunately no longer on the play store, but I can send the apk to anyone who needs it. It's called "Tape Machine" and it's the best damn audio recording app I've ever found. No compression, no low quality, just easy start-and-record. You can even trim your audio and some other basic features as well.
I remember when I used my phone as my mic and got complimented by a person with them saying how good it was. I've done a couple of recordings with it and I do think it's pretty darn good.
Not a VA, but co-workers complaints about my volume during skype calls. I do have a phone tripod but never used it for anything other than photography or lighting. You reminded me that I can use it for a closer mount to my mouth too
Mike, this is exactly what i needed to hear today. Thank you. Sometimes i get caught up in debating with myself over my equipment or settings, and forget that the craft is all about - voice - work.
Thanks for the confidence booster. I just started filming a few videos and understanding my budget and experience has been a little frustrating, but I put out my first spoken video and while the content isn't there, it felt so good to get the first one out. On to the next!
nothing but truth. i used to record song ideas as they came to me on a 120$ phone and most of those recordings sound better than my actual songs (i must admit tho that mix / master isn't my strongest point). don't overthink stuff, just do what you feel like doing - you'll get better with each time you do it
If you have moving blankets left over from shifting furniture, use those, they're beautiful and quite nice for sound treatment. I use three around a loft bed for a studio that sounds better than the purpose-built booth at university. If you've got some PVC piping or some scrap wood and nails, you can make a fantastic standing booth to drape things over. As an addendum to this, if your local hardware store can post out some cork tiles to you, just put those down on your desk and it should make things sound a bit nicer too
yeah. oh well, guess i will buy a new phone! sadder yet, cleaned processed output of my phone/mic still sounds way crustier than his raw... i wonder if 20-40$ mic would be better, or instead a bit of a scam?
Great video, Mike! Great message for an unprecedented time in the history of the earth! I also couldn't agree more, as much as we nerd out on microphones, the space is absolutely foremost and critical.
I just wanted to mention an app people can get for their phones, called "Dolby On". It will automatically adjust phone recordings to sound much better. It also has some manual adjustments available as well. It's especially useful for recording a musical performance, but it might be useful for spoken word, impromptu field recordings, and other applications as well. It performs noise reduction, adjusts volume and dynamics, frequency response, etc. and is VERY simple to use, considering all it does.
Perhaps you, Bandrew, or Mike might want to give it a try and share your thoughts about it?
www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/music/dolby-on.html
Note: I have no personal connection with Dolby or Dolby On. I'm just deeply interested in all things audio related, and thought this might help some folks who want to try recording with their phones.
I like doing field recordings and recording sound effects on location. For this, the best recorder to use, is the one you have with you! 😉
We almost always have our phones with us, and I installed the program on my phone for quick capture of sound effects, and field recording of louder sounds-especially for those times when I don't have my "real" recorder with me. 🙂
I really appreciate this video as I've been forced to move my audio course online and adapt our remaining projects so that they can be completed without access to our studios and equipment. I have included a link to it in the help document I am creating for my students. I'm glad I came across your channel after watching Curtis Judd's channel. It's great stuff. Thank you.
Quite interesting that this got recommended to me a day after I spent $100 on a mic
senzoux Same here
senzoux same I just bought a $130 mic
That’s really not a lot of money so you got off easy
distortingjack it’s $100 more dollars than $0
same but i got an 30$ fifine k669
I swear this dude’s a magician. Everything he uses sounds good as hell, i bet he could go grab the first microphone he sees from a flea market and make a studio quality recording
If you have an extra phone or a tablet (iPad, Android) you could use that also. There are even microphones which plug into phones or tablets if you are in a noisy environment where a more directional microphone would help.
Great video, thanks again Mike!!
Right? I upgrade my mics and sound like I'm doing helicopter traffic reports. He uses a phone and sounds like he is Stephen spinning that smoooooth jazz on WQRL, 89.7 on your FM dial.
Too much background noise in that audio, and the quality has noticeably dropped :( Not "studio" quality.
He could use a soup spoon and still sound good.
it's all about the environment - well isolated, not echoey, etc.
Funnily enough, just today we needed a voice-over for a commercial in an extreme rush.
No time to get the talent to the studio. But he had a phone. And a car.
Fifteen minutes later, i mastered and delivered the spot. No complaints on the technical quality from anyone.
Phones are surprisingly good audio recorders. And cars are surprisingly good vocal booths.
An odd day to come across this video :-)
Everyone else: "Social distancing?"
Voice actors: "So, normal day then?"
haha, I am a full time musician and do producing for radio shows for years and have been working at home. I also do you name it with side businesses, SEO, websites, coding, editing. My girlfriend mentioned how I would be just fine because I barely leave the house. We live in the Hollywood Hills and she does everything at a moments notice. I will set aside my time only for important things like events or concerts, I hate wasting time and money on nonsense,
Producers too😊
mixers/ preamps can boost quality of microphones ... if you buy an expensive mic and a cheap mixer/preamp it’ll bottleneck and you won’t be able to achieve the peak quality of the mic because of your mixer/preamp quality isn’t great
Oh you're a voice actor, that makes sense, with a voice like that😯
This is one of my favorite channels on the Internet. Your content is informative, practical, not condescending, and your desire to help/educate feels 100% genuine. You're the Mike Rowe of voice over education.
Troy GBLAN I get Mike vibes too
By following your advice I won my first job from an audition I recorded in a "pillow fort studio" on an iPhone 5s
Keep up the good work & stay safe 👍
Wow! Congrats! Mike and you give me hope!
That's awesome! I used a bluetooth mic and in my closet for a VO training video track 😂
Excited for you! Congratulations!
So cool! You should post a vid about your experience 🙂
Hey, Any place where we can see the work?
I dont think ive come across a more sincere, humble and genuine person on youtube than this man right here. Great work man
A couple of days ago I was singled out in a Zoom meeting (now that we're all on Zoom...) and told that my audio was amazing. Yes - I was PROUD! That recognition was only possible because I've been paying A LOT of attention to your videos.
I've got a small room in my home where I covered a little over half the wall space with inexpensive homemade acoustic treatment panels. I use that space for both ham radio fun and for recording. I did buy a high quality H6 recorder and some decent wired Rode lav mics and a set of wireless Saramonic lavs to allow interviewees more movement. BUT, on the Zoom meeting that I got complimented on, I was only using a relatively cheap Marantz USB mic. Acoustic treatment is where it's at!!!
Thank You for putting in the time to teach this way.
Wish I had stock in Zoom last month, if they have stock lol
(I'm on Zoom for 2 different things now)
I have a small couch next to my bed, and I never noticed before that I could move it forward a bit, put a thick blanket over the space between my couch and my bed and make a perfect recording space! Thank you so much!!
This aged magnificently. I hate the circumstances, and that 18 months later it is even more relevant. But it is super uplifting. Thank you so much for this video. Love your energy
This is the video that I needed! Thank you. I really appreciate the friendly sound of your voice.
Thanks! Glad it was able to help you!
You have a very soothing voice
Phone, yes. Laptop, likely no. The electrical noise is usually pretty awful on laptops. I agree though.
Have recorded a short Fairytale recently (in german) with a Headset. The microphone sounds really good, but asio and USB noise is killing me 😂
Time to dig out my large diaphragm and audio interface I think
I've been really down and depressed lately and stuff hasn't been working out. This helped, thank you
things will get better :)
Anyone else get inspired each time you hear those rich tones say 'Make something amazing'? Great tips as ever, Mike. Stay safe.
Wow, two videos this week. Must be Christmas soon. Welcome back Mike.
I am mentally stuck right now. It helps a lot, and you're right, and Bandrew went through it also, the best equipment is often what you can come up with around you.
His Microwave sound better than your one hundred microphone bro
Two thumbs up for the first 25 seconds. The rest was great anyway, but i really could feel the honest care that you feel for the people.
Fantastic episode! Just what I needed here in Sweden: A little kick in the butt and some inspiration that turns the mindset to...: We are going to get through this and there is bright light on the other side of the tunnel! Time to warm up the voice again!! Stay safe everybody!
cheap harbor freight "moving blankets" work great
Daniel Looper yup. Amazing
I've been podcasting since of 2018 and still continue to podcast. Very much big inspiration to share with friends. I love it.
This was great!! I began a few months ago with creating a Demo to have on my Profiles with only my cell phone & ear bud mic w/ my Laptop. I wanted to get started with something and that was what I had to work with. I landed a few small jobs and then an audiobook for Narration! With those funds..I then began to build my home studio in a corner of my bedroom..surrounding my desk w/ toss pillows, blankets, and comforters to put under my door and in my window. I have been working since I began and now am on my 4th Audiobook project with another project waiting to begin. Grateful for a work at home hobby/job since my outside work has all come to a halt w/ the pandemic. Stay well & safe All. Blessings! :)
Patti Bullock - I just checked out your channel. When I saw your playlist - I loved it! It sounds like we are on similar journeys! I got a job for an audiobook using my Yeti. I live on the beach which is super noisy for VO! So I have treated a hall closet with a chair, desk, clothes, comforters, and mattress foam. I am on such a tight budget. When I saw your comment, it gave me hope! I am going to use my phone for the audiobook (I had auditioned using a Yeti)and will edit on Audacity. I am so glad I found your channel! Blessings :).
@@Soothe2SleepStoriesStewardess HI Lani!! TY for reaching out. Have you checked ACX for narration work yet? They have plenty of books needing Narrators. Some are on Royalty basis and others pay per book or bundle. I am from Pompano Beach area and yes an imagine the noise element. LOL I use Twisted Wave most of the time when working off my Chromebook laptop. I like the program so far!! Wish you the best!! :)
Patti Bullock aloha & blessings from Hawaii. 🌺🌊. Thank you for telling me about Twisted Wave! I find that even my new PC has a fan that won’t stop when recording! So I’m experimenting in different ways; today I recorded the book I’m narrating with Vocal Pro App. No pun intended for us living on the ocean sounds of people in the ocean and waves....for us to edit with a program called, “Twisted Wave.” 😉. I do have a profile on ACX and did get hired with my yeti for a Royal basis audiobook. I completed my first 15 minutes and it was approved by author. But I didn’t like the Limiter affect on it so I may restart it again.....constantly learning this engineer skill.....😁. Thank you for your tips & suggestions!! They are very helpful. Blessings abound to you!!
Mike on the mic, can I just say, having started from your first video and watching this one, that your physical transformation is inspiring as heck!
Besides how great Mike is, what I really love is hearing how, when he finishes a sentence, or sometimes just between phrases, the volume just drops right to zero, with no trace of room noise or echo.....making his point.
Really, really nice. Thank you so much.
thats the preamp avalon
Was about to buy a microphone and audio interface with the only $200 of disposable income I had since I'm in college. I thought my phone microphone had no chance of cutting it since I heard terrible quality in the videos I have with my friends; but sure enough, I hunched over onto my bed and covered myself in blankets and got a sound that captures every part of my voice that makes it my voice. It's not perfect, but it shows me just how much I had. Gonna be recording my voice exclusively on my phone in a small corner till I get enough blankets and boxes for a fort around my desk.
I've had a $50 mic set for years but thought I needed more to make it sound nice. I heard the importance on a home studio, but never to this degree. It really got the point across. Thank you for this video.
Love your tips. You always show that creativity will trump gear and I think that's an important thing to learn in the beginning.
you couldnt be more right here my friend. I put VO off for a long time because I was waiting for the 'right mic' and once i finally started I realized how much time I wasted just sitting around when I could have gotten a cheaper mic that worked great
Your advice quietly reveals the depth of experience that you have. It's all about the performance and being authentic with your sound. The mic just helps the sound mix. Perfect advice for anyone starting out in voice acting / voice over.
I just watched this now and oh my goodness!
I'm deeply touched with the message here especially with the way you delivered it, Mike. You had my heart bawling! Man, you're like a VO dad to me and I'm sure a lot of others feel a similar way.
I've been doing VO and editing my audio with just a Blue Yeti and a pop filter for two years - all through self-learning - with, fortunately, some degree of success but not to a point where I consider myself an established voice actor or voice over artist, so to say. In a word, I'm plateauing. However, seeing this video lifted my spirits again!
Thank you so much for your videos and the playlist on improvised vocal booths, Mike. I've finally saved enough money to start acoustically treating my home studio - my attic-room - and will do my very best to pull through with what I got and will have.
You're a blessing.
I remember growing up I was in a band and we recorded albums on an 8 track Tascam. Thats drums, guitars, bass and vocals all crammed into 8 tracks. It made you be creative, heck, most of the fun was needing to be creative with your recording techniques. I have recorded vocals in closets full of jackets and for signing.... I have been in many showers recording vocals lol. Free reverb! lol. Recorded drums outside and had to restart every time a plane flew over, but they sounded amazing. Really part of the fun is using your creativity to create the space where you get the best results.
You've just blown my mind. It makes so much sense! Thank you!
As someone in medical- thank you, Mike. Thank you for doing your part. Thank you for doing your best in your corner of the world. Stay inside, and keep creating something amazing!
my set up for a EAZY DIY vocal booth:
1
mattress,
a desk/ office table,
pillows,
a mic and maybe a mic arm that can reach under your desk
and obs with audacity.
obs because thair noise recuction tools are wonderful and audacity to bring back lighter tones and to edit it.
Surrounded by bookshelf with books, it will treat your room
@@DarkPa1adin The quietest room I've ever been in, was the "stack room" at my local university's library. This is a large room filled with nothing but row after row of bookshelves that nearly touch the ceiling. It's mostly used for mass storage, and very few people enter it. I was totally alone in there most of the time. The doors are also heavy and stay closed. There are no windows, nor even any outside walls. After being in this room for awhile, I could easily hear my own heart beating, and I could even hear my own blood flowing. Having lots of bookshelves in a room can definitely make a big difference acoustically!
Voice Meeter Bannana.
Awesome audio tip, Mike, and cheers for your IVBs playlist
This is the first video I've ever seen of yours. And within the first 3 seconds I was like "this guy is engaging!" And I instantly trusted everything you had to say.
Really good to hear this message. No smug corporate attitude referring to expensive gear few can afford. Perfect for these difficult times. Well done!
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! You're absolutely right - most people will tell you that you need to get the right mic for your environment .. BUT … you're spot on, there's also the opportunity to modify / select the right environment to suit your mic. Great video. Good to have this perspective to re-balance the purist view of mics. Top job, sir … top job :)
can't believe this is straight out of the phone!!! that's a testament to the quality of your room acoustics... simply superb!!
Hi Man, we missed in yesterday’s Curtis & Bandrew video. Looking forward to seeing you with them in a future video.
I hope the curve will be as flat as my RE20 soon.
Stay in the booth, stay safe everyone.
Practical advice with a pep-talk attitude. Another excellent video, Mike.
Thank you, Mike. We all needed this. ❤️
I've used my phone for a number of auditions (and booked the gigs). Emailed it to myself, cleaned and edited in Audition.
I love your videos. You're amazing. I went from a $50 Blue Snowball to a Shure 55SH Series II and the difference was night and day in the quality, without having done anything to my space.
Your reviews, guidance, and words of encouragement are absolutely GOLDEN. I can go on forever telling you about the many times your videos have led me to create pseudo booths in a room located in a tremendously noisy Bronx, NY apartment. But THIS video is about something much deeper and more personal in these emotionally trying times. Just want to say THANK YOU. Your love and heart is on every word you said. Bless you sir...
Thank you so much for this video. I was about to invest in a 100€+ microphone and saw your video before buying it. I hadn't realized that the microphones on my phone (Note9) were that good! I also found an app that allows me to use my phone as a USB microphone. It's called "WO mic" and it's free! I'm now going to buy a phone stand to hold my phone just like a mic. You saved me about 80€ euros man, thank you!
You are so Awesome Mike! We love the video's and always learn something but also you seem like the nicest person on the planet!! Thank you for all you do for us
Great video, feels like you are talking directly to me.. I need to stop procrastinating.
Mike, your videos are always fun and 99.949% of the time quite helpful. However! You threw us a curve ball with this one. I didn't see THAT coming. Your tag line, "make something amazing," has always struck me as a subtle counter to the techie nature of your videos. And the way you ditched the 416... and the TLM103... the way you stripped the tech down to show us it's okay to use your phone -- absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the great message. Thanks a ton!
You're so right.. years ago, I did a minor voice over project using my phone's mic.. I was astounded at the quality.. just very surprised.
Your videos are awesome. You inspire me to keep going to finish my audio voice reels!! Plus your voice is killa!
I would agree. Good to see multiple channels covering the same kinds of topics. I feel that helps people make better decisions.
THANK YOU! I’m not a voice actor, but I do produce music as a hobby. A lot of people I know ask me what the best mic for [Insert task]. I always tell them, whatever sounds good to you. The biggest issue with most audio recordings is that they are recorded in rooms with a ton of noise and the mic gain is poorly set. I remember when I first started recording my acoustic guitar I used the mic in my iPhone4, and I realized that I could record a demo with it. It sounded great.
Thanks Mike! This couldn't have come at a better time.
Your videos helped tremendously so far in my VO journey so far. Followed your Reaper tutorials and made a few stabs at a demo reel.
Right now I was procrastinating doubting the cheap USB condenser I'm working with. But it's good enough to land those first few gigs and come up with the funds to invest in better equipment. I thoroughly enjoy this channel!
i love your voice
Really nice to see someone that is so into microphones give this advice. I can see you really love your job. Thanks!
Congrats! Not just the technical aspects of the video but the message behind it =)
I paused the video to download the app and it's really awesome!
For those who cant really treat a space. Record in your car or something. Sound quality is great in a closed vehicle.
I watched the discussion that Curtis and Andrew had and I thought that it was, at best, lackluster. On the other hand, YOUR TEACHING, Mike, is much more applicable to a VO artist - or even a musician. You make it clear that the environment - the recording space - is far more important than the microphone. I've had the years of using microphones that only cost a couple hundred dollars; but doing so in a room that sounded good (or DIDN'T have a "sound"). In the last 10 years I have been able to use a much more expensive microphone but only in the last 6 months really made the treatments to a much larger room and the spot IN THAT ROOM where I got the best sound.
Thanks for your straightforward, no-nonsense videos about creating "something amazing!"
Rob
Cincinnati
Thanks for this video, I´ve been creating excuses for not making the podcast I want to start and your words were the impulse I needed.
Stay at home, my friends! a big hug from Italy. ❤️
A smart friend of mine (a multiple tech patent holder who may/may not have consulted for Apple) told me one time, and this stuck with me, that tiny mic in your iPhone is calibrated to a VERY high tolerance. They THROW AWAY more mics than most companies will ever sell if they don't meet the grade during QC. The mic in my iPad Mini, 6 years old now, sounded BETTER than the Apogee One's own mic.
New phones from Samsung and LG have equally high-quality mics. Watch out for plosives, use pop-screens if you need to.
I never comment on vids. But i will say this...You are the most likeable youtuber i have ever come across. Really interesting channel also . Cheers buddy.
Thanks for sharing this in such a GLARINGLY CLEAR way. Dan Lenard and I from VOBS.TV have been preaching this for YEARS now. We appreciate you spreading this gospel to a wider audience. Love hearing the pitter-patter of little feet above you :)
Can't thank you enough for all the MASSIVE work you do on all these videos and the ways in which you explain things. I have watched tons of your videos and the info is invaluable! I know how much time and prep these take and just really, really thank you Mike! Stay well!! Justin
i use a bm-800, and for my vocal booth a lot of matresses in front of a closet and it sounds perfectly fine.
Thank you for doing what you're doing! I also make a living with my voice. And I've learned a lot of good audio recording tips from you. Stay awesome, Mike!
Thanks for this Mike. Your videos have educated and inspired me over the past several months. I ended up making my walk-in closet a small booth and it’s working well so far. I’m still figuring things out but I’m practicing and making progress. Keep doing what you’re doing. We appreciate it! Stay safe.
Great video! I very much needed to hear this, especially the microphone/studio price ratio. I often spend to much time researching new gear but not as much in improving my space and skills.
This was really good information and perfectly demonstrated, convinced me immediately to stop looking at expensive microphones and start looking at acoustic solutions instead! Earned yourself my sub for sure!
Awesome!. Thank you from a guy who has been sitting on the sideline for too long on this topic. Best wishes.
me too. Go for it and I will too!
This was not just an inspirational talk. This was the perfect pitch for your channel. You, sir, have a new subscriber. The way you constructed this talk is already worthy of some study. The structure (beginning, mid, conclusion) was flawless.
Thank you for releasing this content and thank you for giving me material to study. I will not only study your content, but I'll soak as much as possible from your storytelling and use of voice. To me, as an ordinary teacher, I see a lot of knowledge and experience here. Keep it up, please.
Grateful for this video.
Dude. First time watching one of your videos. 30 seconds in and I already respect you so much. Keep it up.
Wow! I really needed that encouragement and advice. Thanks Mike. You're a great guy! Curtis Judd and Podcaststage are great channels. I watch them regularly as well. I really hope you guys can do a podcast together. I would love to watch it! Thanks again.
All I need now is a voice that people could listen to!
Just found your channel via EposVox. Thanks for the inspirational words. Looking forward to watching some more of your videos.
this man is secretly Mark Hamill
I was quite literally about to drop a dime, thank you!! This was quick and concise and super encouraging.
*need more mics*
Thank you, Mike, for your encouragement... and inspiring pep talk. :)
Here's something very important about using apps for recording: A lot (actually, almost all) apps I've tried for Android had some kind of auto-compression automatically applied to my recorded audio which I couldn't find settings for. Find one that doesn't get louder and louder when there's no sound and dip the volume when it picks up audio. The one I use is unfortunately no longer on the play store, but I can send the apk to anyone who needs it. It's called "Tape Machine" and it's the best damn audio recording app I've ever found. No compression, no low quality, just easy start-and-record. You can even trim your audio and some other basic features as well.
I'll try search for it
Hmm...I was searching for Mics on Amazon and here this comes up..
He's not lying guys, i made a super jank ghetto little booth out of 3 pillows, 2 big blankets and my computer chair lmao.
I TOUCHED MY FACE MIKE! OH GOD!
Thank you for giving people a heads up. Some of them aren't listening.
I remember when I used my phone as my mic and got complimented by a person with them saying how good it was. I've done a couple of recordings with it and I do think it's pretty darn good.
You know what I noticed in my journey through the audio recording world as of today? Mics do not make up for a shit voice. LOL!
Not a VA, but co-workers complaints about my volume during skype calls. I do have a phone tripod but never used it for anything other than photography or lighting. You reminded me that I can use it for a closer mount to my mouth too
Mike, this is exactly what i needed to hear today. Thank you. Sometimes i get caught up in debating with myself over my equipment or settings, and forget that the craft is all about - voice - work.
Love this vid! I'm seeing this way too late but, better late than never! My narrator referred me to this video
Thanks for the confidence booster. I just started filming a few videos and understanding my budget and experience has been a little frustrating, but I put out my first spoken video and while the content isn't there, it felt so good to get the first one out. On to the next!
As always, excellent words Mike. Great advice.
nothing but truth. i used to record song ideas as they came to me on a 120$ phone and most of those recordings sound better than my actual songs (i must admit tho that mix / master isn't my strongest point). don't overthink stuff, just do what you feel like doing - you'll get better with each time you do it
Glad your back, Mike :) love your vids, please keep uploading!
I just got a new mic for my birthday and unironically watched this on my birthday
If you have moving blankets left over from shifting furniture, use those, they're beautiful and quite nice for sound treatment. I use three around a loft bed for a studio that sounds better than the purpose-built booth at university. If you've got some PVC piping or some scrap wood and nails, you can make a fantastic standing booth to drape things over.
As an addendum to this, if your local hardware store can post out some cork tiles to you, just put those down on your desk and it should make things sound a bit nicer too
My phone's mic quality is garbage, thanks for the advice anyways.
yeah. oh well, guess i will buy a new phone!
sadder yet, cleaned processed output of my phone/mic still sounds way crustier than his raw... i wonder if 20-40$ mic would be better, or instead a bit of a scam?